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This is Laura Gadson's quilt, on exhibit at the Washington DC Historical Society, along with other fabulous quilts. The fiber works in the exhibit celebrate the inauguration of Obama, our 44th President. If you're in DC, the exhibit runs at least through 1/31 and may be extended to the Smithsonian!

Unveiled during the height of the campaign, Daniel Edwards' Michelle Obama Bust did not get the coverage it deserved, at least I thought. Due to its controversial nature, I guess that was a good thing...at the time. I think this is one of the most important and beautiful pieces of sculpture I have ever seen; the only thing it's missing is a pair of my earrings...and Michelle Obama can only dream of having bosoms that full. But, then again, perhaps those, too, are symbolic. Hmmmm?

In the artist's words, the goal was to create a "signature" look for Michelle Obama, that would "eliminate excessive comparisons to Jackie Kennedy". An eagle-shaped pearl-studded Afro pick replaces the traditional pearl necklace, the hairstyle boldly hearkens Nefertiti, and the American flag tattoo adorning Michelle's exposed breasts is meant to compensate for the lapel pin her husband refused to wear. Some have even suggested a significance to her "O" shaped earrings. This is one for the history books....

Michelle Obama's Makeover for America is the latest installment in Edwards' Inspire America which also includes “The Presidential Bust of Hillary Rodham Clinton”, the “Oprah Sarcophagus,” and “The Iraq War Memorial” featuring a war-dead Prince Harry clutching the cameo-locket of his late mother, Princess Diana. Other controversial Edwards' works include life-size sculptures of Britney Spears giving birth to a bearskin rug, and a Paris Hilton autopsy. Kinda sick but, alas, the artist makes his point.

Here's a short video of Daniel discussing his controversial Castro sculpture, which he had planned to unveil in Central Park, 2006:

Michelle Obama's Makeover for America - created to inspire a new style regimen for First Ladies of the present and future.

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Since we're on the subject of Castro:

"History Will Absolve Me" 2008 - Me in front of my Castro portrait.

A bit off the subject of art, perhaps, but I'd like to point you to this letter written by Fidel Castro to (then candidate) Barack Obama in May, 2008. Castro is amazingly lucid, and had quite a bit to share with the young man.

It starts out as follows, and I urge you to read the rest:

"It would be dishonest of me to remain silent after hearing Barack Obama'sspeech delivered at the Cuban American National Foundation last Friday. I feel no resentment towards him, for he is not responsible for the crimes perpetrated against Cuba and humanity. Were I to defend him, I would do his adversaries a favour. I have therefore no reservations about criticising him and expressing myself frankly."

But, while the image is familiar to us all and, perhaps even emblazened in our minds, it wasn't until very recently that its actual artist was revealed: Shepard Fairy. Shepard Fairy was a somewhat controversial street artist who became known for his subversive art, undergound documentary film, and stickers and posters, which he illegally posted up around cities such as New York and Washington DC. At the same time, Fairy was fashioning for himself a successful graphic design firm, creating work for Pepsi, The Black-Eyed Peas, et al. Fairy was a staunch Obama supporter from day one and, as an expression of his enthusiasm, created this screenprint, which he presented to the Obama campaign in its early stages. The rest is history!

There's certainly a lot more to Fairy's story, including the fact that he moonlights as a DJ. Read about him HERE, or visit his web site - Obey the Giant - to learn more about his work.

<<< You may have seen this Fairey sticker or poster littering the walls of some building in your city. The artwork is related to his film Andre the Giant Has A Posse - a fifteen minute documentary about his sticker campaign and the philosophy that drives it.

When the Obama's embarked upon their pooch search, a national pet adoption agency approached Fairey and asked him to use his artistic influence to press the adoption idea. Fairey agreed, and I think it worked ;-) >>>